Mars Hill Blog | 08th March 2019 | General Topics

Life can often feel like a roller coaster with its ups and downs. Sometimes it can feel like it just one big uphill battle. But should it really be like this? Is there a way in which we can live where no matter what life throws we still have peace, and life is still being lived to the full? On Sunday we looked at a message that God gave Jeremiah as we encourage each other to put down deep roots into God, so that we are continuously living in his fullness and provision. ...

Mars Hill Elders | 24th March 2018 | General Topics

Why Mobile Mars? The church, in general, is in danger of loosing what set it apart in the first place; People overwhelmed by the love of God, totally devoted to Jesus, living in community together reaching out to a world with the love, power and presence of God. Many people think the church is outdated and not relevant to today - and most often what they mean by that is how churches conduct their Sunday services. Churches are trying to soften the musical worship times, reduce preaching slots, thinking people wont connect because its not relevant. They try and think of new ways of presenting Jesus, the church and services and call it things like fresh expressions. But are they really working? Do they bring the life changing, powerful, Holy Spirit encountering gospel that we see in Acts? Im not saying these things are wrong, but it is too easy to think that we need to package things up and make it palatable or accessible for people, or what we think accessibility looks like.  Yet Jesus didn't do that, he spoke in words that people could understand, he preached the kingdom and demonstrated it through signs and wonders.  His disciples, and then the early church, did the same.  I really feel we have bought into a lie that we need something different; that Sunday services are not relevant to today.  Yet when I watched Cold Play at Glastonbury the ‘congregation’ had arms lifted high in worship, and were singing along. The lead singer would then preach a message and they would carry on worshipping - it looked just like a modern day service.   We recently embarked on Mobile Mars - taking our Sunday services out into the open air, and before we did, we asked the question should we do something different because we are outside? Yet we felt no, we wanted everyone to see what we do as a church on a Sunday morning, and have the opportunity to see God at work through the power of preaching, musical worship, prophecy, prayer, healing - signs and wonders. So we decided to be obedient and did our Sunday service church gathering how we do it - led by the Holy Spirit and we saw God move powerfully. On the first service we had a guy in his 20’s walk through the park, stop, listen and he stayed for the whole message.  Then when the worship started he went to his car and sat listening to it with his window down.  Another lady came along and engaged with what was going on.  Someone spoke to her at the end and invited her along again.  Another guy walking through the park stopped and listened.  A number of local residence opened their windows and sat listening.  If we did something quiet, or in small groups, if we didn't sing worship to God, or preach an audible message, how would any of them have heard the gospel?  I don’t believe any of them would have stopped, listened and engaged.  Romans 1v16 - says we are not to be ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God unto Salvation. If people cannot see and hear, then they will never know. I strongly believe in the power of the Word through all different mechanisms whether its music, a message, talking to someone, but the gospel needs to be spoken and supernaturally seen.  The vision for Mobile Mars is to take the church service outside so the world can see what we do behind doors and hear and see the Kingdom in action.  God reminded me of George Whitfield who would stand in fields and preach for hours to thousands of people who would come and gather to see what was going on.  So many people came to faith during those times, and many people would manifest the Holy Spirit through shaking, falling down and all sorts.  God honoured the preaching of his word, because the word is Jesus.  It was simple, uncomplicated, and totally reliant on God turning up. Thats my vision for Mobile Mars and I hope that during this time the church is built up and brings others in.   How then will they call on h...

Mars Hill Blog | 23rd May 2017 | General Topics

Let’s Get Real. That’s the message God is giving us. That’s what Authentic Love means. Authentic Love isn't just a snappy title or a cool graphic that has put together: it’s something that is at the heart of God. It’s something that God is wanting us to grasp. It’s something that will change the church and impact our world like no other. The world was turned around by 11 ordinary guys, later passed on to a small church of around 120 who were devoted to Jesus, lived authentically, and cared about others more than themselves, so that the power of the Holy Spirit was at work among them. They knew what it was to get real…...

Mars Hill Blog | 01st January 2017 | General Topics

New Year is often full of new years resolution; some are kept but many are broken.  New diets, New exercise plans.  New ideas and new dreams.  In the midst of all this God is still in the business of making things new - us, and our world.  But how can we live more in the reality of this?   ...

Mars Hill Elders | 24th March 2018 | General Topics

Why Mobile Mars? The church, in general, is in danger of loosing what set it apart in the first place; People overwhelmed by the love of God, totally devoted to Jesus, living in community together reaching out to a world with the love, power and presence of God. Many people think the church is outdated and not relevant to today - and most often what they mean by that is how churches conduct their Sunday services. Churches are trying to soften the musical worship times, reduce preaching slots, thinking people wont connect because its not relevant. They try and think of new ways of presenting Jesus, the church and services and call it things like fresh expressions. But are they really working? Do they bring the life changing, powerful, Holy Spirit encountering gospel that we see in Acts? Im not saying these things are wrong, but it is too easy to think that we need to package things up and make it palatable or accessible for people, or what we think accessibility looks like.  Yet Jesus didn't do that, he spoke in words that people could understand, he preached the kingdom and demonstrated it through signs and wonders.  His disciples, and then the early church, did the same.  I really feel we have bought into a lie that we need something different; that Sunday services are not relevant to today.  Yet when I watched Cold Play at Glastonbury the ‘congregation’ had arms lifted high in worship, and were singing along. The lead singer would then preach a message and they would carry on worshipping - it looked just like a modern day service.   We recently embarked on Mobile Mars - taking our Sunday services out into the open air, and before we did, we asked the question should we do something different because we are outside? Yet we felt no, we wanted everyone to see what we do as a church on a Sunday morning, and have the opportunity to see God at work through the power of preaching, musical worship, prophecy, prayer, healing - signs and wonders. So we decided to be obedient and did our Sunday service church gathering how we do it - led by the Holy Spirit and we saw God move powerfully. On the first service we had a guy in his 20’s walk through the park, stop, listen and he stayed for the whole message.  Then when the worship started he went to his car and sat listening to it with his window down.  Another lady came along and engaged with what was going on.  Someone spoke to her at the end and invited her along again.  Another guy walking through the park stopped and listened.  A number of local residence opened their windows and sat listening.  If we did something quiet, or in small groups, if we didn't sing worship to God, or preach an audible message, how would any of them have heard the gospel?  I don’t believe any of them would have stopped, listened and engaged.  Romans 1v16 - says we are not to be ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God unto Salvation. If people cannot see and hear, then they will never know. I strongly believe in the power of the Word through all different mechanisms whether its music, a message, talking to someone, but the gospel needs to be spoken and supernaturally seen.  The vision for Mobile Mars is to take the church service outside so the world can see what we do behind doors and hear and see the Kingdom in action.  God reminded me of George Whitfield who would stand in fields and preach for hours to thousands of people who would come and gather to see what was going on.  So many people came to faith during those times, and many people would manifest the Holy Spirit through shaking, falling down and all sorts.  God honoured the preaching of his word, because the word is Jesus.  It was simple, uncomplicated, and totally reliant on God turning up. Thats my vision for Mobile Mars and I hope that during this time the church is built up and brings others in.   How then will they call on h...

Mars Hill Elders | 04th August 2016 | General Topics

An Army not and Audience Being a Christian is not a passive lifestyle, its not a crutch or a pathway to an easy and lazy life. Being a Christian is meant to be something that is challenging, life changing; people with a purpose, intent on seeing the mission and vision of God realised in the community we live in. The church is Gods only plan for reaching the world with his love by the life of Jesus through the power of the Spirit. There is no other plan, God has put all his eggs in one basket and that is his church; everyone who truly is a follower of Jesus. I read this week a small phrase which has stayed with me and it is this; we must build an army not an audience. Yet the church can become a comfortable and compliant place; an audience, warming seats on a Sunday and maybe attending one or two groups in the week. This was never Gods plan, he wants his church to be alive; full of faith reaching out through the supernatural power of God every minute of every day. An army that marches to the beat of the heavenly drums. People who are totally devoted to Jesus, and willing to do whatever he asks. Jesus said this - “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14v26-27) These are not words for the faint hearted, but for people who are willing to live radically and give their all to Jesus above anything else… God has been speaking about delighting in him (Psalm 37), and when we think of delight, words like; joy, pleasure, enjoyment come to mind, which is right; in Gods presence is fullness of life (Psalm 16v11). Yet there is an important part that we miss; to delight in God isn't primarily about our pleasure, but his. To delight in God means to please him. So when the Psalmist writes delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart, he is saying live in a way that you please God; that you delight him, that you love and obey him. So often Christianity is based on feelings and what God gives us, but we need to flip the focus from us to Jesus, and make him central. When he is central, then the church will break from living like an audience; waiting to receive the next fix, but will begin to live like an army; ready to ride out in battle, taking seriously our call to go into all the world and make disciples. We will go out in the power and presence of God to heal the sick, cleanse the leapers, cast out demons and raise the dead (Matt 10v8) If we are willing to do this, not just in sentiment but action, Kingdom power will come in a way that the world will have to acknowledge the love of God, because he cannot be missed. Let us continue to delight in Jesus; making him our focus, so that together, as one church, we can ride out in battle at the beat of the heavenly drum… “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” Rev.7:9-10,...

Mars Hill Elders | 12th June 2016 | Religion & Spirituality

The EU Referendum - Babylon, Babel, and the Beast Introduction: We are fast approaching voting day, where we as a nation need to decide whether we are in or out of the European Union. As this time has drawn near more and more information has come out about whether we should stay or go; political and economic battle lines have been drawn by all parties involved. Within this mix the Christian voice has also been raised, with a warning cry about the European union and how this may relate to biblical prophecy. My intention for this blog is not to make any political statement, or tell you which way to vote, but to address the spiritual views made by some christians on the European union and to hopefully give some helpful thought about how to move forward. Let me me first address some of the Christian ideas that are being promoted:For a number of Christians, there is a growing concern over the European Union, that it is fulfilment of end time prophecy found in the books of Daniel and Revelation. Proponents of this view believe that the European union is the beast or the antichrist, rising up to persecute the Christians before Jesus returns. They believe this because of the following reasons: Babylon: Daniel 2 tells us about a dream King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had about a statue, which had different parts. Daniel interprets this dream as the different parts referring to different empires that will rise and fall. It is believed by some that the last kingdom depicted as feet made from iron and clay in the vision is a picture of a restored Roman empire which is what is happening now in the European Union. This new empire wont be destroyed until Jesus second coming, which is the stone that is seen in the vision. The centre for the European Union is Strasburg, with the parliament building that they say looks like Babel… Babel: Strasburg - European parliament meet in a building built by Louise Weiss that is believed to have been modelled on a painting by Bruegel of the Tower of Babel. All this begins to build an argument that the European Union is a new Babylon, with a new Tower of Babel, which is what revelation 17 refers to as the mystery of Babylon, and she is riding on a beast… Beast:Featured outside the European Union headquarters is a sculpture of a woman on a bull. It is believed that this actually represents the prostitute and the beast found in Revelation 13 and 17 and Daniel 7. Brussels and Strasburg also contain paintings of this. The member states also use this in their currency - the euro. Again building up the picture of the European Union as the Antichrist, But what do these symbols really mean?I personally believe that this is a misunderstanding of Scripture for the following reasons: Babylon: The final empire made of iron and clay in Daniel 2 is believed by most Scholars to be the Roman empire, which was in rule during the life of Jesus, and not a reformed Roman empire of the future. It is believed that the stone is Jesus first coming, which set in motion the defeat of Satan and the introduction of Gods Kingdom. Jesus death finished everything, thats why Jesus cried, ‘it is finished’. This also means so was the reign of Satan, and although Satan still has opportunity to work in this world, it is only through us that he can do so. Jesus said all authority is his, so go… (Matthew 28). If Satan still had some authority over Jesus, Jesus couldn't have said all authority is his. Revelation speaks of the time of Roman rule when the church was still in its infancy, where Caesar was God, and Christians were persecuted. However, through the church, the kingdom was still coming and bringing healing to the world, which we carry on today. This will lead up to when Jesus will come again written about in the last few chapters of Revelation. Babel: The Louise Weiss building was actually modelled on a Roman amphitheatre not the Tower of Babel. The idea of Babel actually came from a Mormon T...

Mars Hill Elders | 06th June 2016 | Religion & Spirituality

Expectantly Waiting... Waiting isn't something that we're very good at, generally speaking. In many ways we live in a society that doesn't need to wait anymore - many shops are open 24/7, we can do banking on our phones or on the internet at any time of day, we can talk to people instantly through messages. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, it's quite nice to be able to go shopping in the middle of the night if you realise you don't have something you urgently need - but this does have an affect on our ability to wait. My girls both have birthdays coming up in the next few weeks and all we've heard in the build up is "I can't wait." The reality is they can wait... but they are waiting with a sense of expectancy of what is coming. They know that very soon there is going to be a party for them and that they are going to get presents - and this is what build the levels of expectation. They expect because they have been told and experienced in the past that this day is a special day for them. When Jesus was born, there had been many prophecies that had built an expectation amongst the Jews as to what was going to come. Isaiah 7, Micah 5 both talk of the birth, Isaiah 9 talks about the suffering servant... all these prophecies built an expectation of what was to come, past experiences of the Jewish people would have helped them to know that what God had promised was going to happen. But what happened? most of them missed it. The Pharisees and the Sanhedrin didn't accept Jesus as the Messiah because it challenged their own position and authority. That brings me on to the main message of this post, and that is that prophecy builds expectation of what is going to happen, but we need to be careful that we don't miss it or get in the way of it... God gives us words, pictures and visions in order to help us wait expectantly for what He is going to do. Habakkuk 2:2-3 says "write the vision, make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end - it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay." Mars Hill have been given many prophecies and visions over the past few years which all point to an outpouring of the Holy Spirit over the town of Teignmouth, the likes of which we have never seen before. I believe that God has done this so that our expectation levels grow in eager anticipation of what He is going to do. There is a need for you to be patient and wait knowing that God will do it at the allotted time, and we trust that it will not delay. It's often very easy to dismiss prophecies if we don't see them happening straight away, or it's often easy to try and make things happen because we're so desperate to see it ; but in the waiting we grow and develop ourselves as we wait on God. God is doing a new thing in this place, He is moving and beginning to shake things up. We need to expectantly wait with excitement and hope of the fulfilment of what He has promised. Paul Scott - Elder and Youth Leader...